Work too slow for too long
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2020 6:39 pm
Hey there, knowing I might get the answer “enjoy it while it lasts”, I am still a bit anxious about my work being too slow for too long as a first year at a big law. I do transactional work so there has been ups and downs but mostly downs.
So far I have probably had only two months (out of five in total) where I am actually working working aka paying clients, real deals and stuff. Other times it’s mostly training/pro bono work. I asked around and most first years don’t think they will hit the bonus requirement. In February I am just waiting for inputs from clients/reg bodies.
I do reach out, a lot, and most people just say they don’t have much work either or they are already in the middle of something where it will be weird to staff new person on. I pick up a decent amount of pro bono work too.
I am not quite sure if this is about my work but honestly I don’t think so (obviously self-biased). I have messed up one thing with one partner and everything else has been fine. People I have worked for always come back to me too. It’s just slow and sometimes we will have the awkward conversation where I, a first year, push people much more senior to me and ask about status on different deals.
So now I am just uncertain about what to do and whether I should do anything. I do have three/four deals on my plate and they might as well resume altogether. Is there a way for me to get a more stable amount of work? Should I also interact with people not only professionally but also socially? Should I cold email people in other offices to see what they have (I am in the HQ office)? Have you ever been in my position before?
Thanks!
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Also wanna add the following:
There is basically no competition for work for me because the only other first year is on medical leave for some time and even when he was here he worked less than me.
I am in the general group where many if not most people do have a specific group already. I have tried to “break in” other groups - got some work but I am seldom the first person that comes to their mind.
So far I have probably had only two months (out of five in total) where I am actually working working aka paying clients, real deals and stuff. Other times it’s mostly training/pro bono work. I asked around and most first years don’t think they will hit the bonus requirement. In February I am just waiting for inputs from clients/reg bodies.
I do reach out, a lot, and most people just say they don’t have much work either or they are already in the middle of something where it will be weird to staff new person on. I pick up a decent amount of pro bono work too.
I am not quite sure if this is about my work but honestly I don’t think so (obviously self-biased). I have messed up one thing with one partner and everything else has been fine. People I have worked for always come back to me too. It’s just slow and sometimes we will have the awkward conversation where I, a first year, push people much more senior to me and ask about status on different deals.
So now I am just uncertain about what to do and whether I should do anything. I do have three/four deals on my plate and they might as well resume altogether. Is there a way for me to get a more stable amount of work? Should I also interact with people not only professionally but also socially? Should I cold email people in other offices to see what they have (I am in the HQ office)? Have you ever been in my position before?
Thanks!
———
Also wanna add the following:
There is basically no competition for work for me because the only other first year is on medical leave for some time and even when he was here he worked less than me.
I am in the general group where many if not most people do have a specific group already. I have tried to “break in” other groups - got some work but I am seldom the first person that comes to their mind.